PES started officially in 1997. For reforestation he will get $196 per hectare, rising to almost $300 if he improves biodiversity by planting native or threatened species. Deforestation is a major threat to biodiversity and ecosystems in Costa Rica.The country has a rich biodiversity with some 12,000 species of plants, 1,239 species of butterflies, 838 species of birds, 440 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 232 species of mammals, which have been under threat from deforestation. Where does Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) come in? As an answer to the long-term forest deforestation, Costa Rica’s government encourages land owners to protect the land. This was the social cost of creating national parks.

The country has a rich biodiversity with some 12,000 species of plants, 1,239 species of butterflies, 838 species of birds, 440 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 232 species of mammals, which have been under threat from deforestation.[1]. [2] Soil erosion has increased with deforestation with the topsoil washed away from the hills into the streams and out into the oceans, year after year.[2]. In 2008, 46% of the money went to ‘sociedad anónima’, 28% to individuals, and 23% to indigenous groups, for whom PES is incredibly important as it may be their only source of cash. In fact, they lost about 60 percent of their forest cover for a variety of reasons including agriculture, the logging industry, and population increased. In the 1940s, 75 percent of the country was covered in rainforest, cloud forest, and mangrove. Deforestation in Costa Rica. Between the 1950s and the late 1980s Costa Rica went from 70% forest cover to just 20%, one of the fastest deforestation rates in the world. See what is causing the gradual destruction of the world's woodlands. [2] Approximately 20,000 acres (8,100 ha) of land are deforested annually; in the 1990s the country had one of the worst deforestation rates in Central America. Costa Rica had 241,000 ha of planted forest. National park regulations stopped people from converting forest to other uses, but without any compensation for lost livelihoods.

Corruption exists in Costa Rica, but this problem is much lower than in many other Latin American countries. Deforestation statistics for Costa Rica. If eligible, the farmer signs a five or 10-year contract. The central government gave each conservation area the authority to exercise significant degrees of autonomy to design and implement policy for the management of the protected areas under their jurisdiction.[7][8].

How significant is the recovery? The carbon markets began very strongly and then crashed, so Costa Rica made voluntary agreements, with Norway for example.

A good example was agro-forestry contracts, introduced in 2005. Deforestation is a major contributor to climate change and environmental damage. For example one of the country's protected areas is a strip of forest which runs for 40 miles (64 km) through nine ecological zones from sea level to 12,500 feet (3,800 m). On another front, Costa Rica has similarly achieved a remarkable turnaround. Deforestation is a major threat to biodiversity and ecosystems in Costa Rica. Finally, for sustainable forest management he gets about $60 per hectare. We use cookies to deliver functionality and provide you with a better service. The chain of being is only as strong as its weakest link, and when forests are indiscriminately altered, whole ecosystems can be seriously affected. Open Knowledge: Costa Rica is renowned for reversing deforestation.

All rights reserved. [2] Many non-government conservation organizations are working in the country to prevent deforestation and further these efforts of preservation and restoration.

Any other use is strictly forbidden. In some countries they pay a pittance for carbon.